Black Belt schools bring home Bs, Cs on latest statewide education report card

Black Belt schools reported mixed results in the statewide report card that was released by the Alabama State Department of Education website last week.

Demopolis City and Hale and Marengo counties produced the highest scores in the Black Belt News Network's coverage area with Bs, while Perry County had the lowest score at a D.

The report card, which was posted to the Alabama State Department of Education website the week before Thanksgiving, gives school systems an overall grade and numerical scores in the areas of academic achievement; student improvement in reading, English and math; career or college readiness; graduation rate; and the percentage of students who miss 18 or more days of school (chronic absenteeism). 

For comparison purposes, the state of Alabama collectively earned a B with a score of 85. The academic achievement score was 64.5, academic growth was 97, graduation rate was 90, chronic absence was 14.8 and college or career readiness was 84.2 In all 718,716 students attend the state’s public schools.  

Selma’s Saints Virtual Academy was one of only two schools in the Black Belt News Network’s coverage area that received a failing grade with a score of 50, the lowest of any area school.  

Dallas County Schools earned a C with a score of 79, four points higher than its 2023 score and 10 points above its 2022 D grade. The system increased in every category except the graduation rate, which only decreased slightly to 89.1. Career readiness increased from 69.1 to 77.4 in 2024. Absenteeism dropped to 26.8 from 33.8 in 2023.  

Zickeyous Byrd, who was Selma City School System superintendent during the grading period, retired before the report was released, and the school system is looking for his replacement. Dallas County Superintendent Anthony Sampson has announced that he will not renew his contract, so the county system will also be looking for a new leader to start in June.  

Demopolis City Schools, which is also operating with an interim superintendent as a search for a new leader continues, received a B with a score of 88, three points higher than its scores in 2023 and 2022. In 2024 Demopolis schools increased in every category with a 67.2 in academic achievement, 97.8 in academic growth and a 95.4 in college and career readiness, up from 88 in 2023. However, Demopolis High School fell to a C with a score of 78, down from a B score of 82 in 2023.  

Marengo County Schools received a B with a score of 87, one point higher than its 2023 score and six points higher than its 2022 score. Marengo County Schools improved in every category, although it also saw a slight increase in chronic absenteeism. 

Hale County earned a B with a score of 84, compared to scores of 80 over the last two years. Hale County schools received a 50.4 in academic achievement, 97.5 in academic growth and 77.7 in college and career readiness, down from 79.9 in 2023 and 83.4 in 2022. The system decreased chronic absenteeism to 15.4, down from 17.8 the year before. The Moundville-based elementary, middle and high schools all earned Bs, while the Greensboro-based elementary and high school earned Ds and the middle school earned a C.  

Wilcox County Schools earned a C with a score of 73. The system earned a 70 in 2023 and a 75 in 2022. Academic achievement increased from 34.1 to 37 in 2024, and academic growth increased slightly to 89.6. The graduation rate dropped to 75.6 compared to 89.6 in 2023 and 95.9 in 2022. Chronic absenteeism jumped from 19.5 in 2023 to 35.8 in 2024. It was 27.4 in 2022. Wilcox Central High School earned a failing grade of 57.  

Perry County School System was the only system in the Black Belt News Network’s service area to earn a D grade, with a score of 69. In 2023, the system earned a C with a score of 73 and a 70 in 2022. The system earned a 31.6 in academic achievement compared to 29.9 in 2023, but they dropped 10 points in academic growth to 73.1, and the graduation rate dropped to 88.2 compared to 92.1 in 2023. College and career readiness was 80 compared to 84.3 in 2023 and 49.5 in 2022.  

Breakthrough Charter School in Marion, which is not part of the Perry County school system, earned a D with a score of 64. The school earned an F with a score of 57 in 2023 and a D with a score of 66 in 2022.  

Lowndes County Schools received a C grade with a score of 77, four points higher than its 2023 score. The system improved in academic achievement, academic growth, graduation rate absenteeism and career readiness. Calhoun High School and Lowndes County Middle School earned D grades.   

Montgomery County Schools earned a C with a score of 74, up from its 2023 score of 67, which earned the system a D. Montgomery schools earned an academic achievement score of 47.9, up from 43.8 in 2023 and 43.6 in 2022. The system saw increases in every category. The graduation rate increased to 79.4 in 2024 compared to 67.4 in 2023.  

“We want everyone to be aware of what is going on in the schools across our state. We are committed to providing easily manipulative online tools that show rich, detailed data in a way that is intuitive, simple, readable, and parent-friendly,” State Superintendent Eric Mackey said. “This is a useful resource for anyone interested in Alabama’s public education data.” 

Mackey said parents, educators, and the public alike can use the Report Card to learn more about what is happening inside of all Alabama public schools. He hopes the Report Card will be used to jumpstart conversations about what is working in public schools as well as identifying areas that may need support and/or additional resources. 

Both the state and federal report cards can be accessed here.